"Maybe you're living with Crohn's, like I am. Maybe you've faced chronic migraines, cancer, autoimmune symptoms, depression, fatigue, or simply the exhaustion of carrying emotional pain for far too long. We hear so much about symptoms. We hear about flare-ups, inflammation, test results, treatment plans, diets, and what might be coming next. But rarely does anyone ask questions like: When was the last time you laughed? What's something that made you feel alive today? Do you feel safe, supported, and loved-especially by yourself?"
"I was already familiar with medical tests, chronic pain, medications, and the frustrating cycle of temporary relief followed by setbacks. But nothing prepared me for the moment when my body finally said "enough." It was during a difficult Crohn's flare a few years ago. The pain was relentless, the fatigue was bone-deep, and the emotional toll was overwhelming. I felt like I was disappearing into the role of "sick patient," losing pieces of myself one doctor visit at a time."
Joy deficiency describes a state in which chronic illness, pain, or sustained emotional suffering drains the capacity to feel joy, laughter, aliveness, and self-compassion. Many people with conditions like Crohn's, migraines, cancer, autoimmune disease, depression, or chronic fatigue face relentless focus on symptoms, tests, and treatments while emotional needs go unaddressed. Important questions about laughter, feeling alive, and feeling safe or loved are seldom asked. Prolonged flare-ups and medical cycles can shift daily life toward mere survival rather than living. Severe pain, bone-deep fatigue, and overwhelming emotional toll can erode identity and reduce a person to the role of "sick patient."
Read at Tiny Buddha
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